Solaris Books, who publish sci-fi and fantasy in the UK and US, have a fascinating article up on their site at the moment, about the rationale behind choosing particular covers for sci-fi and fantasy.

"You’d think it would be easy – in the science fiction and fantasy field – to publish a book that appeals to science fiction and fantasy fans, the traditional ‘core genre market’. After all, isn’t every fantasy novel just a retelling of The Lord of the Rings and every science fiction novel just Star Wars by another name?

Thankfully, while there are undoubtedly some book-buyers who think in this way, increasingly readers are beginning to realise this is far from the truth. The science fiction and fantasy (SF/F) genre is as complex and diverse as fiction itself, and often, for a publisher in this market, finding new ways to appeal to the correct audience can be a challenge of epic proportions. Publishing a successful SF/F novel is not something you can easily do to a formula, and indeed, the measures of what make a novel a success are as varied as the houses that publish them. So how, then, do you go about finding this elusive success and packaging a novel in a way that will maximise its potential in the market?

As I see it, there are currently two schools of thought – to package your SF/F novel to appeal to as wide a readership as possible, in the hope of enticing readers from other areas of the bookstore to pick it up on a whim; or to package your SF/F novel to appeal to the perceived core readership of the genre, or indeed, fans of Battlestar Galactica and Doctor Who, people who want a book with a spaceship or a wizard on the front of it.

Of course, there are risks inherent in both of these approaches. Whilst a novel that successfully transcends its genre roots will command much higher sales figures, the publisher risks alienating or losing the core audience who may not entirely empathise with the publisher’s new direction for their favourite author or sub-genre, especially if they can’t find the book on the shelves in the SF/F section of the bookshop (and this is perhaps the greater risk – if the buyer is not prepared to try the book in an atypical location in the store, you may end up with it sitting in the SF/F section anyway, but looking like it belongs elsewhere). ...On the other hand, a book that sets out explicitly to capture that core audience is appealing to a much more limited readership and has little or no chance of transcending the genre and breaking out into the bestseller lists. ...

Of course, there are no hard-and-fast rules... There are also plenty of books on the edge of the genre, paranormal fantasies such as the Anita Blake books by Laurel K. Hamilton or historical fantasies such as the Troy novels by David Gemmell.

Many genre imprints in both the UK and the US ... [are] packaging novels to appeal to a wider audience, focusing on getting front-of-store promotions and aiming for the bestseller lists... "

The article is fascinating and if you want to read the whole thing, it's here. But they've missed the one secret ingredient to ensure success, which came to me the other day, although I'm not sure why. Probably it was hanging around Supanova and seeing all those Jedi in costume. But I now know the secret to a bestselling cover.

You have to put a Jedi on it.

If you put a Jedi on the cover, the Force will be with you and you will sell bucket loads of books.

Orbit discovered this secret when they released Trudi Canavan's  Magician's Guild with a Jedi on the cover in the UK. The rest, as they say, is history. Mind you, now all Trudi's books have Jedi  (not that she needed the help of the Force, mind you, because she's a great writer). But the Jedi Factor is so effective they are putting Jedi on the covers of all her books, even when her books are about, well, priestesses. (BTW, they put horses on her last series, too, which is funny, because Trudi goes out of her way not to have horses in her stories.) I share her pain in this instance. Have you heard my palm tree story?

But I digress. We were talking about covers. Jedi are the way to go. Take a look at the UK covers of Karen Miller's Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series. Or Iain M Banks sci- fi novel, Matter.

So, now I've got to thinking and I have a plan. You see, I'd like the Force to be with me, too, but I also have an axe to grind about those bloody palm trees. Therefore, I have decided that my next book will be titled The Jedi and the Magic Coconut.  Or maybe the Magic Coconut Strikes Back? I'm undecided.

Whatever... provided I can evoke the image of a palm tree and a Jedi, I'll be happy. My new series will sell several squillion copies and I will be able to install a pool to go with my waterproof phone.

I am a genius:)

lol oh wise and wonderful guru... where do you come up with these ideas?! I look forward to both the palm tree and coconut having starring roles.

HAHAHAHA... that is so true. I never realised it before. It must be the Star Wars effect. Have you seen the cover of Brian Ruckley's Winterbirth? It looks like Boba Fett on the cover!

And hey, I'd buy a copy of "The Jedi and the Magic Coconut". ROFL

*looks shamefaced* I think I'm guilty of buying a book base on its cover...and I have the Karen Miller's books cause the cover just looked cool...and I'm a SW nut too.
I dislike palm trees...or as I call them Palm NOT trees. But I've seen fantasy covers with palm trees on them...isnt the new Fiona Mc(something) new series in the USA have them?
I would buy any book from you...I think if you published your blog in book format you would still be getting my money...
Laters
Kris

Someone had to do it - but Dammit! I can't post images in the comments. I'll put it on my blog.
cheers,
Cameron

A bit bored tonight - I have put a rough mock up for "The Jedi and the Magic Coconut' on my blog. With apologies to original artist.
cheers,
Cameron

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